Save The Wales! A 769 Ternyllwg World Conquest MisadventAAR

[daird]

Count Iorweth Ternyllwg
769

For three centuries, my family has ruled the lands surrounding the castle of Mathrafal- so long, in fact, that they now bear the name of my dynasty. Yet in all this time, we have never, never prospered like the Karlings of France or even the Icelings of Mercia. It is time to change all that. Time for us to take over not just Europe, but the world. It won't be easy, and it won't be in my lifetime, but I can lay the groundwork.

I admit, I do not seem like the kind of man who would harbor such grand ambitions, or one capable of carrying them out. I am known throughout Wales for my skills in theology, and my knowledge of business is decent, but military and especially diplomatic matters are not my forte. Still, I shall have no choice but to make use of the talents I possess.

My liege Brochfael is a man similar to myself in terms of ability, save for the fact that he never picked up a Bible except at knifepoint. He has made me his Chancellor, a post that I am wholly unsuited for, but I am not stupid enough to pass up the gold and glory that comes with it

Anselm Capet is my Chancellor- unlike my liege, I try to reward the skilled rather than deal out favors by patronage. He has been sent to fabricate a claim on Brycheinog- should he fail, I will simply have to take the county in a border dispute.

Mayor Beli is my Marshal, a man of some military skill. I just wish he was a better businessman- Radnor is my main source of income right now. Still, it could be much, much worse. I have him increasing the local levies, not that there are that many to increase in the first place.

My Steward is named Leodegasti. Like many of the other members of my council, he could stand some improvement. Still, he will do a decent job of increasing the taxes in Ternyllwg.

For the position of Spymaster, I have chosen my own darling wife, Arianwen. She will study the technology of Constantinople- I just hope she isn't also trying to convince some back home to stick a dagger in me.

Last, but most assuredly not least, we have Bishop Ysfael, my Court Chaplain. I have him searching local villages for apostates, as well as performing various ceremonial duties in my court. Anything to keep his taxes going to me and not the Pope, after all.​

 

[daird]

Iorweth Ternyllwg
769-779

With less than 300 men in my army, any conquering in the immediate future would require the help of allies. King Offa of Mercia is the strongest power in the British Isles, so it was only natural that he be the first one I turned to. Later, the King of Hwicce would also join me.

My first target of conquest was Brycheiniog, known for its great horses. A claim was successfully forged in June of 772, and with Offa's help, I was able to take the county for myself.

Next to fall was Gwent. While not necessarily the most prosperous of long-term targets, with only three holding slots, the castle had a town, stables, and barracks built. Quite possibly the most developed single castle in Wales, if not all Britain. A worthy addition to my demesne.

Meanwhile, my house has grown as well. Where there were only four Ternwyllngs just ten years ago, there are now nine, and the numbers do not seem like they will be stopping any time soon.

All in all, a good start- but there is still so much to do.​

 

[daird]

Iorweth Ternyllwg
769-779

Things continued to advance at a fairly rapid pace. First, my new Chancellor Cydrych told me of the possibility of an artifact hidden nearby, and I ordered him to search it out. Unfortunately, he died in a collapsing ruin within a month. C'est la vie... or is it c'est la mort in this case?

However, I was able to keep expanding swiftly. First Builth fell, and with a fourth county, I was able to successfully declare my independence from Powys. Four counties against one is hardly a fair fight, after all.

Glywysing, Pengwern and Rhos soon fell to my forces, allowing me to declare myself Duke of Glywysing and Powys, but events on the continent caught my attention as well. First, the tree sacred to the pagans at Paderborn was torched by King Karl of France, who soon prevented dissolution of his lands upon his death by declaring himself Holy Roman Emperor.

The Pope granted me a claim to Ergnyng, the last county I need to declare myself King of all Wales, and I will need to press it soon. With a massive empire now right next door to me, every second is precious.​

 

[daird]

Iorweth Ternyllwg
789- October 20, 799

On the 19th of February, 790, I was crowned King of all Wales, a local bishop placing a ring of purest gold around my head. Although my realm was much smaller than other kingdoms, the idea of allowing me to hold a large personal demesne made me their equal. This will be a hallmark of Welsh governance throughout the ages, and the key to its success.

With the kingdom established, I turned my attention eastward, to England. First of the duchies to fall was Mercia, as the Pope granted me a claim to the title in question. I would give it to the the count of Lincoln, securing a powerful vassal for the rest of my reign.

Next to fall was Northumbria. The lands of northern England were already riven by fighting, and it was an easy thing to step in and vassalize the whole region in one fell swoop.

I have done much in nearly sixty years on this earth. I have established the Welsh state, and seen my family's lands grow from a tiny outpost in the middle of nowhere to a great power and the envy of all Catholicism. Corf, I leave the kingdom in your hands now. Guide it well.

 

[daird]

Corf Ternyllwg
20 October 799-3 January 806

Unlike my predecessor, who focused on growing the kingdom, I preferred to spend my time improving it internally. Wales had been in a near-constant state of war for thirty years now- the people needed time to recover and turn their attentions towards building. Sadly, it seemed that the Swedes had other ideas.

The war was long and bloody- the Swedes were the greatest enemy Wales had faced in her brief existence, but with the aid if my fellow Catholics from across the British Isles, we were able to destroy them. I only settled for a white peace because the gains from an enemy surrender would be too little.

However, the Great Swedish Invasion had another effect as well. There was no longer any benefit to holding the realm at peace, so I declared war for the Duchy of Seisyllwg. We have caught up to the enemy at Rhos and outnumber them greatly. It should be an easy fight...

 

[daird]

Idnerth Ternyllwg
806-816

Iorweth and Corf had focused their internal efforts towards money and the Welsh economy, relying on their large lands to provide them with troops, but I could not afford to do so. The realm's military situation needed to be strengthened, and it would soon be tested by the Danes. However, they could not put as many troops in the field as the Swedes, and victory was a simple matter.

Other than that, however, it was a very quiet decade. I simply do not have the strength yet for foreign adventures... but I will soon.​

 

[daird]

Idnerth Ternyllwg
816-21 June 825

The past 9 years, honestly, have been rather boring. Internal politics have kept me from declaring offensive wars, but I have been able to keep myself from facing open revolt. The electors have told me that they wish Tudwallon to succeed me; it should have been him taking the throne in the first place, not me. He will do a better job than I did; he can hardly do much worse, after all.

 

[daird]

Idnerth Ternyllwg
825-September 28, 832

My predecessors had conquered most of Britain, but Wessex still remained untaken. I tried to hold off and continue improving my demesne, but the lure proved too much to overcome. A quick battle and a few hostages later, and Wessex was my vassal within the year. Shockingly easy, I must admit.

Yet I got my start too late, it seems. Corf was right- I should have held the throne instead of him. The voters have told me that Idwallon is to succeed me; it seems they do not wish to make the same mistake twice. At least Wales will be in good hands, I think.

 

[daird]

Idwellon Ternyllwg
September 28, 832- April 27, 840

The last parts of old Wales have fallen under my banner. Cornwall, the ancient seat of Arthur in days gone by, has once again joined with the rest of the lands. Yet disaster has struck closer to home. The scourge of consumption has come, and even were I not the target of a coalition, I would not dare fight another war with the Kingdom in such a weakened state. At least the plague has not come for me yet, thank God. Wait-what's that hissing sound...

 

[daird]

Alisander Ternyllwg
840-852

As Wales (and myself, for a brief time) was in the grips of tuberculosis, my first act as King was to issue a general decree that we would focus inward for several years. Unfortunately, others such as Oswald, the murderer of the previous king who I simply could not afford to retaliate against, had differing ideas. If they could not have war with anyone else, they would have it with me, and for the first time, House Ternyllwg faced a serious open revolt.

Outnumbered, and with no allies to rely on, I was low on options. I had to take the pathetic course of securing a loan from a consortium of Jewish bankers, God save my soul, and hire some mercenaries. This was enough to do the job, however, and I soon paid back what I owed- it only seemed the right thing to do.

Apart from that, the only interesting news was back on the continent. It seemed that the Saxons had finally abandoned their old pagan ways... but for those of Allah, not Christ. How one of the desert dwellers made it all the way to north Germany I don't know, nor can I even begin to guess.

 

[daird]

Alisander Ternyllwg

852-861

Wales, at last, has seen a chance to become more than just a power in Britannia. The mighty Holy Roman Empire, the greatest power in all Christendom, burns under a revolt. Every coin paid to a soldier is a coin the Empire can't use to improve itself, and weakens a formidable foe.

Yet things are not as good at home, I fear. I was able to bring the first bit of Ireland under Welsh rule by vassalizing the small Duchy of Laigin, but war against Mide has turned sour. I myself lost a leg in the storming of Dublin, and the injury has failed to heal properly. I can only hope I have a good heir...

Goddammit.

​

 

[daird]

Custennin Ternyllwg
8 May, 861- 4 March, 873

The war with Mide was wrapped up rather quickly, but I now had a new problem. Namely, the fact that I wasn't a Welshman. While this did endear me to the Anglo-Saxon nobility of England, it also meant that the old tanistry succession of Wales no longer applied, and I risked the realm being divided in gavelkind. I had two options: either make a conscious effort to portray myself as Welsh, or have a large amount of propaganda paid for to solidify my firstborn as heir to the realm. I chose the first, and despite having to go into hiding to keep from whispered plots of my assassination, I was able to survive and get the law changed back to what it was. The Vikings are planning another invasion, but I feel confident I can repel it, and the core of the realm is safe once again.​

 

[daird]

It's been a century since we've started, so let's see how the rest of the world has developed, shall we?

The conquest of Britannia is going well, though I haven't formed the titles of England and Ireland to avoid problems with Tanistry electors. Still, it doesn't seem there is a force in the Isles capable of doing more than annoying me.

In the northlands, Sweden and Novgorod are major powers, while Muslim Saxony seems doomed to be a bizarre blip in history.

E

The Umayyads are trying to hold the HRE at bay, but are being slowly ground down. Meanwhile, Africa's Muslims are pushing up the Italian boot.

In eastern Europe, Pannonia pushes ever eastward, while Serbia has become the first country to embrace Christianity and the Khazars have sided with Islam.

On the steppes, the Karlukids and Bajanids are the two main powers, while further south, the Abbasids are as invincible as ever.

The Empire of Tibet still stands strong, while Lanka has made small but significant inroads into mainland India.

Last but not least, a look at the great powers of the world. Wales is on the list, but clearly, there is a lot more work to do.​